Venezuela and Guyana agree not to threaten each other or use force

Government from Venezuela and Guyana agreed this Thursday, at a meeting led by their leaders in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, not to threaten or use force under any circumstances, including those “arising from any dispute existing between the two countries,” such as the around the Essequibo which has raised tension in recent weeks.

According to the joint statement, both countries, which They dispute a territory rich in natural resources of almost 160,000 square kilometersthey agreed that “any dispute” would be resolved “in accordance with international law, including the Geneva Accords” of 1966, an instrument that defends Caracas and establishes a dialogue solution to the conflict.

After the meeting of the Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduroand his Guyanese counterpart, Irfaan Alithe parties pledged to continue “dialogue on any other outstanding issue of mutual importance” and to refrain, “either by word or deed, from escalating any conflict or disagreement arising from any dispute”.

In this sense, “they will cooperate to avoid incidents on the ground that would lead to tension”, and in the event of an event of this type, “they will immediately communicate with each other, with Caribbean Community (Caricom)with Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) and with the President of Brazil,” Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to “restrain, undo and prevent it from happening again.”

The Brazilian president and Celac, with the support of Caricom and the UN, proposed to the conflicting parties this meeting, which was held five days after the proposal, with the aim of stopping tensions and avoiding individual actions.

Caracas and Georgetown also agreed “immediately establish a joint commission” with their foreign ministers and technicians to “address mutually agreed issues”, and must present updated information to Maduro and Ali “within three months”.

The controversy escalated after Venezuela approved the annexation of the disputed area under the control of Georgetown on December 3 in a unilateral referendum – which was supposed to be binding – and the Maduro government ordered the settlement of a military unit near the disputed area. without intrusion at the moment, as well as changing the official map of Venezuela, to which Guayana Esequiba was annexed.